*TWT means “This Week in Travel”: a curated selection of stories specially chosen for meeting planners and meetings professionals.
Winter Drops a Weather “Bomb”
Just in time for the holidays, a massive “bomb cyclone” of winter weather is scheduled to blanket most of the country.
A bomb cyclone happens when a rapidly strengthening storm includes a rapid pressure drop of 24 millibars (a unit of pressure) within 24 hours.
Chicago is set to be one of the most affected cities with blizzard potential. Many flights that depart or connect at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) may be cancelled or rescheduled.
United, which hubs in Chicago has offered four winter weather waivers: Midwest, Texas, East Coast and Central and Northwest U.S.
Delta issued travel advisories for Midwest and Central Plains, Atlantic and Northeast and Northwest Mountains.
American Airlines has a waiver for 30 airports in the Midwest and a separate waiver for 30 in the Northeast.
JetBlue is waivering four airports: Chicago (ORD), Kansas City (MCI) Milwaukee (MKE) and Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) There is also a waiver for the Northeast for 16 cites including, New York’s La Guardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
World of Hyatt Inclusive Collection put out a release stating that the “resorts’ inclement weather policy for in-house or arriving guests is now in effect and applies to guests departing from cities throughout Canada and the northern United States regions.
“Guests who are unable to depart due to airport closures and flight cancellations will be offered accommodations and all services at the rates indicated below by brand on a USD per-person, per-night, all-inclusive basis, to be paid directly at the hotel. These inclement weather rates are extended as a special courtesy due to the situation, subsidized by the resort and not available otherwise.”
For more information on how to rebook a flight check out our story, Missed Your Flight: Here’s Your Next Move.
Bally’s Chicago Gets Council’s Green Light
Bally’s Corporation has received a Chicago City Council vote to approve an amendment to Planned Development No. 1426 which authorizes zoning for the construction of its $1.7-billion Bally’s Chicago Casino.
The phased project includes a 3,000-person event space along with public open space that meeting planners can look forward to booking in the 500-room hotel/casino.
Located on the 30-acre Chicago Tribune Publishing Center at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, Bally’s Chicago will include 3,400 slots, 170 table games, 10 food and beverage venues, a 3,000-seat/65,000-square-foot entertainment center, a 20,000-square-foot exhibition, outdoor music venue, and outdoor green space including an expansive public riverwalk with a water taxi stop. The project also provides Bally’s with the exclusive right to operate a temporary casino for up to three years while the permanent casino resort is constructed.